Thailand's new king, Rama X, or Maha Vajiralongkorn, on Monday afternoon, appeared at the Grand Palace in Bangkok to address and receive the cheers of thousands of his subjects, most of whom came clad in yellow shirts showing support for the monarch.
King Vajiralongkorn, who succeeded his father, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, appeared on the balcony with his fourth wife, Queen Suthida, at his side. He began his reign on Oct. 13, 2016, the day his father died, and was crowned last Saturday (May 4).
Clad in a dress white military uniform, King Vajiralongkorn of the Chakri Dynasty addressed his people for the first time as their new monarch. It was the same balcony from which his father first addressed the Thai people as their king 69 years ago.
He spoke briefly to his people and with his wife, two daughters and a son from his previous marriages, waved to the adoring crowd before retiring to the palace interior. One of his daughters took photos of the crowd, as well as her father, using her smartphone.
King Vajiralongkorn, 66, was previously greeted by Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, leader of the military junta that overthrew Thailand's democratically elected government in 2014.
The king's appearance today follows two days of elaborate pageantry highlighted by King Rama's spectacular coronation ceremony on May 4. The king was dressed head to foot in a gold raiment and was carried around the streets of Bangkok on an ornate palanquin borne by 15 men.
One of the many official titles King Vajiralongkorn took is Rama X or the 10th king of the Chakri dynasty founded in 1782.
Saturday's rituals transformed King Vajiralongkorn into a "Devaraja," or a divine embodiment of the gods. The king received the royal golden plaque containing his name and title, the royal horoscope, and the royal seal, which were made in a three-hour ritual last week.
He also received and put on five articles of the royal regalia from the chief Brahmin.
The tall crown weighing 7.3 kg symbolizes the summit of Mount Meru, the Hindu god Indra's heavenly abode. Its weight represents the monarch's royal burden. King Vajiralongkorn put the crown on his head himself with the help of court officials.
Before the crowning, King Vajiralongkorn dressed in white robes for a purification ritual. He sat under a canopied fountain that poured consecrated waters over his head.
Thailand's Buddhist Supreme Patriarch poured sacred waters over the king, followed by Brahmin priests and royal family members. The king also gave alms to saffron-robed, barefoot monks.
The monarch also granted Queen Suthida, a former Thai Airways flight attendant and head of his personal bodyguard regiment, her full royal title.
"I shall continue, preserve, and build upon the royal legacy and shall reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the people forever," said King Rama in his first royal command on Saturday.
Traditionally uttered after a king is crowned, the king's first command serves to capture the essence of his reign. King Rama command was similar to that of his father's.
